he great white shark can be found in oceans around the world, primarily in cool coastal waters.
These super swimmers are the largest predatory fish on our planet. On average, they measure about 4.6 meters long, but some individuals can reach up to 6 meters, which is half the length of a bus!
Great white sharks have a gray coloration with a white underside, hence their name. They have a streamlined shape and powerful tails that enable them to swim at speeds over 60 km/h (37 mph)!
Any unlucky creature caught in the mouth of a great white shark will experience a terrifying shock. The monster of the sea has a set of 300 sharp, triangular teeth arranged in seven rows. It’s truly a frightening sight to behold if you dare to get closer.
Many people believe that these creatures are man-eating monsters, but in reality, humans are not on their menu. There are about 5-10 reported great white shark attacks each year, but researchers believe that instead of intentionally preying on humans, they “test bite” out of curiosity before swimming away.
So what do great white sharks eat? When they are young, they feed on small prey such as fish and rays. But as they grow larger, they primarily consume marine mammals like seals, sea lions, and small whales.
Great white sharks have an extremely acute sense of smell. They can detect a seal colony from up to two miles away. And get this, even with just one drop of blood in 100 liters of water, a great white shark can still sense it!
These cunning creatures prefer to approach their prey by surprise. They often hide below their victims to avoid suspicion and then swiftly swim up to strike. They also frequently breach the water’s surface (a behavior known as breaching) and then submerge with a tasty meal in their mouth.
During each reproductive cycle, female great white sharks typically give birth to two to ten pups, known as “pups.” However, they show no maternal care towards their offspring and may even intend to eat them. To ensure their own safety, the shark pups immediately swim away into the open ocean.
Great white sharks are at the top of the food chain and face very few threats from other marine creatures. However, they are sadly facing severe threats from human activities. Illegal hunting and overfishing have led to the great white shark becoming a vulnerable species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
These facts provide some insight into the fascinating world of the great white shark, highlighting their incredible abilities and the need for conservation efforts to protect these majestic creatures.
